Speedo: Inspect the VSS connector for corrosion and damaged pins. Make sure the drive link is installed. Next, pop out the cluster and unplug the connectors. Make sure the connector pins are clean and undamaged, and then plug them back in snuggley.

Dimmer: Pop out the dimmer switch and unplug the connector. Take a short pice of wire with insulation removed at each end and insert one end into the terminal for the red wire and the other end into the terminal for the black wire of the dimmer connector. When you turn the lights on, the dash lights should now illuminate at full intensity. If this is what happens, then the old dimmer switch is bad. You can either replace it to regain dimmer function or simply splice the red and black wire together so that the dash lights shine at full intensity anytime you turn the lights on.

 

hello to all,
i have been having a similar problem w/ my 94 civic LX. the odo, and trip work all the time, no CEL's, and all of the wiring is intact from the speedo to the VSS. the 3 prong connecter has been cleaned. the speedo needle does not display the correct speed and erraticly goes all over the place. it has now spun itself all the way around the dial and is stuck on the bump stop right below 0 mph. Can i just swap out speedo housings and pull the odo housing from the old one and put it in the new one to retain the same miles?

 

Hi Ron,
thanks for the diagrams! In reference to the speedometer, since the CEL is working, and the speedo, tripo, and odo are not, are those symptoms consistent with a bad VSS? (you were asking me if the CEL light was working).

thanks,
Steve

 

I think the VSS may be fine. I would start by troubleshooting the VSS wire running between the VSS and cluster. Look for loss of continuity and a short.

 

Hey, I have a '95 honda Civic and the same thing just happened the other day to me! The Speedo totally died without any jumping or anything one day after I went out of town for the weekend. I started it up, and it was completely immobile but the temp gauge and everything else work fine. Also, intermittently the CEL will turn on. The OBD I read 7 which is the TPS. Could that sensor be linked to the Speedo? Engine runs fine still and all. I don't think it's the timing belt... what do you think?

 

First things first, sorry if i am messing up by raising this thread from the dead. It was just exactly what is happening to my hatch so i figured it was the perfect place to post.

Anyways, i am having the same problem as the OP. My speedometer doesn't work sometimes, and when it doesn't my odometer doesn't either. My check engine light comes on randomly too. It doesn't come on the same time as my speedometer dies.

So far from what i read it looks like it is either my VSS (Vehicle Speed System) or my gauge. Any ideas? Thanks in advance and sorry if im posting in the wrong place.

 

I am jumping on here too because my 93 LX started doing the sporadic speedometer readings about a month ago. I'll look at the wiring and vss this weekend and return with the outcome.

I'm glad this thread IS back from the dead, it's actually rather timely...

 

Wow,

Both issues in one place, I have the crazy speedometer and the dash light dimmer issue too.

Both my odo and trip work so I assume its the actual speedo assembly.

Great diagrams but I am a bit confused on the SRS connection part, what does it mean by "install the short connector on the airbag before disconnecting the harness" ???

I'd rather go without a speedometer than have an airbag blow a screwdriver through my eye socket.

Or is it a simple thing just replacing the actual speedometer with a used one?

 

wow thanks guys... I just join this forum and glad I did because I just bought 96 civic and I am having the same problem speedo working sometimes, no odo,and no CEL...